Ananth's Adventures

Bharatanatyam and theater arts have played an important role in my life. The purpose of this page is to share ideas and lessons for parents to explore with their children. I hope other neurodivergent children and adults also benefit from Indian natya as I have benfited.

Recently, I have started creating and sharing resources on my Youtube channel, Ananth's Adventures. This webpage describes the resources on this page and provides links to selected resources.

I am grateful for the ongoing encouragement, guidance, and support provided by Dr. Sarada Natarajan, President RMCL, Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Dr. Vaishnavi Poorna, Ms. Usha Sankaran, and Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh. I am thankful for the varied experiences through RASA and RMCL. I hope this page will show my journey to others and inspire other neurodivergent learners and their parents to explore Bharatanatyam and theater arts.

I have learned Bharatanatyam for over ten years. I have been fortunate to learn from Guru Harija Sivakumar and Professor Kalakshetra Mohanan for many years. I completed my arangetram in October 2020 under the guidance of Professor Mohanan. Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Founder/Director of RASA (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya) was the chief guest at my arangetram. Dr. Kameshwar is the creator of the Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) approach.

Discovering Theater Arts for Holistic Development

After my arangetram, I started learning storytelling and drama from Ms. Usha Sankaran, a senior facilitator for RASA India. I have done three theater performances under the guidance of Dr. Vaishnavi Poorna, Deputy Director of RASA.

Later, I started learning Bharatanatyam from Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh, a TAHD facilitator and faculty and artiste at the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning, Bengaluru. My Bharatanatyam lessons follow a TAHD approach and include stories and teachings of Ramana Maharshi. I am enjoying exploring Bharatanatyam in a different way. The lessons and activities on this page have been developed under the guidance of Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh.

There are four types of videos on this page.

  • Demonstations of children's songs with Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh

  • Demonstrations of Bharatanatyam basics with Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh

  • Story of the month narration under the guidance of Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh

  • Theater productions with RASA.

Activity 1: Trees: A Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) Eploration

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Click the link below to read my blog post with ideas on how to teach children with the animal song video

Teaching about Animals

Activity 2: Designing Lessons

1. Watch the video.

2. How is the imitate, repeat, memorize, improvise process being used in this lesson?

3. What ideas did you get for designing lessons from the video?

This video is a recording of a part of a lesson with Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh. Review activity 6 and watch the video before reviewing this snippet. In the earlier video, there are many suggestions for lesson design. Review those suggestions before continuing this activity. This lesson will be discussed in virtual meetup 1.2.

Section 2 Children's Songs

The videos below can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children. The videos also show how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

The songs in this section from the Ramana Rhymes collection created by the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning (RMCL). Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh, faculty and artiste at the created the animal song lessons for the 100-Day Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) Lab. Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) was developed by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Founder and Director of RASA.

I am glad that I had the opportunity to demonstrate these songs with Ujwal anna because I got the idea of exploring these songs with my nephew based on this experience. I hope parents will enjoy these songs with their children.

The lessons in this section also show the process of imitation, a process that we use daily in dance class. I imitated my teacher in class a few times and then we recorded the song. I had not practiced these songs when I taped them. I practiced some of them later to explore with my nephew!

Activity 3: The Animal Song

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Click the link below to read my blog post with ideas on how to teach children with the animal song video

Teaching about Animals

Activity 4: The Body Parts Song

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Activity 5: The Tree Song

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

Activity 6: About Ramana Rhymes

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

Section 3 Bharatanatyam Basics

The videos in this section are intended to introduce Bharatanatyam basics. We want to show how a structured form of movement with a step by step learning process can be used to develop movement capacities in children and adults.

We encourage parents to try these Bharatanatyam-based movement actvities with their children. Once parents explore with their child, they may decide that Bharatanatyam lessons will be of value to their child. I have been learning Bharatanatyam for over ten years and I hope other neurodivergent children and adults will learn too!

The songs in this section from the Atma Darshana collection created by the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning (RMCL), Bengaluru. Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh, faculty and artiste at the created these lessons for the 100-Day Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) Lab. Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) was developed by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Founder and Director of RASA.

The lessons in this section also show the process of imitation, a process that we use daily in dance class.

Activity 7: Pada Beda 1 - Movements of the Feet with Sloka

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

This video is a recording of our virtual meetup on May 15, 2023 and marks the start of this 100-Day effort to present a walkthrough of LIFESMART philosophy and approach. The first ten minutes of this video introduce the idea of learning as a process of coproduction involving neurodivergent learners, parents, and professionals. I explained the Ananth's Adventures digital storytelling project and Youtube channel as one arising out of a process of coproduction. One of our key goals is to show coproduction in action at different stages of the learning process. Follow the link to read an article on coproduction.

What is Coproduction? Moving from Theory into Practice

Activity 8: Pada Beda 2 - Movements of the Feet with music

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Dr. Rama got an opportunity to present at an Able Aura session. In this session, Dr. Rama shared our journey. She explained how various experiences such as Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Enki education, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Bharatanatyam, and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) have paved the way for academic and other learning. We are suggesting this as the first activity so that our community members understand our history and approach.

Activity 9: Bharatanatyam Basics - Tattaduvu

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

Activity 10: Bharatanatyam Basics - Nattaduvu

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The video on narration with Thinkblocks was another video shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. This video shows narration with a visual and tactile tool - Thinkblocks. Ananth has done the narration and Dr. Rama has introduced Thinkblocks and DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) method.

About Cabrera Research

Section 4 Story of the Month

I narrated my first story at a webinar organized by SpecialSaathi on my birthday on December 2, 2022. These stories are a part of my Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) explorations. Each story includes some music and dance elements. Also, since I learn Ramana Maharshi stories in my dance class, I am narrating stories of Ramana Maharshi. Watch the stories and share with your child. You can also get ideas for telling different stories to their children based on my explorations. For example, the peacock and cow hand movements can be used while narrating other stories abour peacocks and cows.

I have also included links to my blog posts with additional ideas on using these stories.

Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) was developed by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Founder and Director of RASA. I encourage the guidance and support provided by Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh, faculty and artiste at the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning (RMCL) on my Story of the Month project.

The selections below demonstrate the Imitate, Repeat, Memorize, Improvise process in action. I learn by imitation. Repitition, memorization, and improvisation transform what I learn into the final story narration.

Activity 11: The White Peacock

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

This was my first storytelling experience. I learned this story in my dance class. We created a cript by adding an introduction and ending. then, I practiced with the guidance of Ms. Usha Sankaran and Sri Ujwal Jagadeesh.

Click the link below to read my blog post about my experience narrating The White Peacock story.

The White Peacock Blog Post

Activity 12: Robbers in-Ramana Thatha's Ashram

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Dr. Rama got an opportunity to present at an Able Aura session. In this session, Dr. Rama shared our journey. She explained how various experiences such as Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Enki education, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Bharatanatyam, and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) have paved the way for academic and other learning. We are suggesting this as the first activity so that our community members understand our history and approach.

Activity 13: The Golden Mongoose

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The video on narration with Thinkblocks was another video shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. This video shows narration with a visual and tactile tool - Thinkblocks. Ananth has done the narration and Dr. Rama has introduced Thinkblocks and DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) method.

About Cabrera Research

Activity 14: What is silence?

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

Activity 15: Cow Lakshmi Comes to the Ashram

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

Activity 16: The Journey to Arunachala

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.

Section 5 Ananth's Theater Performances

The videos in this section are my theater performances with RASA India. I am very grateful to Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Dr. Vaishnavi Poorna, and Ms. Usha Sankaran for the opportunity to perform in these plays.

Activity 17: Swami Vivekananda

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Click the link below to read my blog post about my RASA Day 2023 experience. I have also included suggestions for parents and teachers to use this play and other resources to teach about Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda - The TAHD Way Blog Post

Activity 18: Jatayu Moksham

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. Make a list of ideas.

Dr. Rama got an opportunity to present at an Able Aura session. In this session, Dr. Rama shared our journey. She explained how various experiences such as Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Enki education, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), Bharatanatyam, and Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) have paved the way for academic and other learning. We are suggesting this as the first activity so that our community members understand our history and approach.

Activity 19: Krishna Dootam

1. Watch the video.

2. What ideas did you get from the video?

3. List your ideas for using music and dance with your child

The Tree Song video was one of the videos shared before the virtual meetup on May 15th. One type of video on the Ananth's Adventures YouTube channel includes children's song that can be used to teach concepts such as animals, body parts, and trees to young children and even older children and adults. The tree song video is one example that shows how movement and dance can be used to teach concepts in an enjoyable way.